Jerry Jones drops "optimistic" update on CeeDee Lamb one day after Cowboys WR's cryptic post
The CeeDee Lamb contract drama has dominated the headlines throughout the offseason. The Dallas Cowboys and the wide receiver are yet to agree to terms on a new deal, prompting him to hold out from training camp.
With the team's season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers less than three weeks away, there are genuine concerns about whether Lamb would be ready or even be willing to suit up.
However, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones isn't panicking yet. During an interview with reporters at the Ford Center, Jones was asked whether he was optimistic that Lamb would sign a new contract with the Cowboys, he responded,
“I think I am [optimistic about Lamb signing a new deal]. And when I say that, it doesn’t sound too promising. The facts are that I believe we’ll come together. I don’t want to speak for him. That’s what I’m trying not to do. But we wouldn’t have offered him what we’ve offered him if we didn’t want him to be here.”
Lamb turned down the Cowboys' latest offer, which was reportedly around $33 million a year. The wide receiver is holding out for a deal closer to Justin Jefferson's four-year, $140 million deal, with an AAV of $35 million.
Despite the setback, Jones remains confident that the team will retain the services of Lamb, who led the league with 135 catches in the 2023 season. However, CeeDee Lamb's recent social media activity could be cause for concern.
CeeDee Lamb posts cryptic message on social media
A day before Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' reassuring comments about his star receiver, Lamb posted a cryptic message on Instagram that caused a frenzy among fans.
He posted a clip from director Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 in which actor Tobey Maguire dons a black suit made of an alien symbiote that alters his personality from cheerful to evil. It's unclear why CeeDee Lamb posted the clip, but fans have presumed it was linked to his ongoing contract negotiations with the Cowboys.
Lamb's future and availability for the team's Week 1 clash against the Chargers remains unclear. With one year left on his rookie deal, the wide receiver is eager to secure his future before stepping onto the field again.
As things stand, the 25-year-old is holding firm and demanding the Cowboys make him the highest-paid wide receiver in the league. They haven't come through yet, and the clock is ticking.